Bumper unit in leisure type ship

ABSTRACT

A bumper unit of a vessel for leisure according to the present invention includes a hull; a bumper housing that is fixed to the hull and formed so that its one side is opened; a bumper arranged at the bumper housing to be selectively expanded/contracted by a working fluid; a driving module supplying the working fluid to the bumper; and an opening/closing module opening/closing the bumper housing whose one side is opened. Therefore, the bumper is protruded outside the hull by the use&#39;s manipulation when the vessel comes alongside the pier, which may alleviate shocks exerted to the hull, and the bumper is retracted inside the hull, which prevents the outer appearance of the vessel from being spoiled.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a bumper unit of a vessel for leisure, and more specifically, to a bumper unit of a vessel for leisure, including a bumper that is retracted on a voyage and automatically expanded to minimize shocks when the vessel comes alongside the pier.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, small and middle-size vessels such as yachts, boats for fishing, speedboats, coastal fishing boats, etc. are made of a fiber-glass reinforced unsaturated polyester resin (FRP: Fiber-Glass Reinforced Plastic), which has excellent durability that allows for semi-permanent usages, corrosion-resistance strong against chemicals, even higher strength and lower thermal conductivity relative to those of any other materials, stability that shows little variation against external physical, chemical actions, as well as a good restoring force that allows the shape to be maintained in spite of temporary shocks or pressure and an advantage that may represent various colors.

Here, incase of a vessel made of FRP, for example, a small-size vessel for water leisure activities, its entire hull is made thin and thus may be easily damaged even by a small shock, and is highly likely to be supposed to a collision with surrounding objects and breakage at a region that has a narrow fairway or low water depth, causing restrictions on the fairway of the vessel.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

An object of the present invention is to provide a bumper unit of a vessel for leisure, including a bumper that is retracted on a voyage and automatically expanded to minimize shocks when the vessel comes alongside the pier.

Technical Solution

According to an object of the present invention, there is provided a bumper unit of a vessel for leisure including: a hull; a bumper housing that is fixed to the hull and formed so that its one side is opened; a bumper arranged at the bumper housing to be selectively expanded/contracted by a working fluid; a driving module supplying the working fluid to the bumper; and an opening/closing module opening/closing the bumper housing whose one side is opened.

Preferably, the opening/closing module includes a cover arranged at the hull to be slidingly moved to open/close the bumper housing and a locking mechanism is further arranged at least one of the cover and the hull to lockingly fix the cover.

Preferably, the opening/closing module includes a cover arranged at the hull to open/close the bumper housing and an actuation mechanism moving the cover and a rail is arranged at one of the cover and the hull and a rail groove is arranged at the other one.

Preferably, a locking mechanism is further arranged at least one of the cover and the hull to lockingly fix the cover and the actuation mechanism includes a motor arranged at one of the bumper housing and the hull, and a rack arranged at the cover to receive a driving force from the motor.

Preferably, the opening/closing module includes a cover opening/closing the bumper housing, a motor slidingly moving the cover, a rack arranged at the cover, and a pinion coupled with the motor to transfer a driving force to the rack and a locking mechanism is further arranged at least one of the cover and the hull to lockingly fix the cover, wherein the locking mechanism includes a locking groove arranged at one of the hull and the cover, a ball arranged at the other of the hull and the cover, and an elastic member elastically supporting the ball.

Preferably, the opening/closing module includes a cover arranged to be relatively rotated with respect to the bumper housing to open/close the bumper housing, and an actuation mechanism relatively rotating the cover and a locking mechanism is further arranged at least one of the cover and the hull to lockingly fix the cover.

Preferably, the locking mechanism includes a locking groove arranged at one of the hull and the cover, a ball arranged at the other of the hull and the cover, and an elastic member elastically supporting the ball and the driving module includes a compressor compressing and supplying a working fluid to the bumper, a supply tube connecting the compressor and the bumper to each other to supply the working fluid compressed by the compressor to the bumper, a recovery tube connecting the bumper and the compressor to each other to supply the working fluid of the bumper to the compressor, and a check valve arranged at each of the supply tube and the recovery tube.

Preferably, a storage tank is further arranged between the recovery tube and the compressor to store the working fluid and a locking mechanism is further arranged at least one of the cover and the hull to lockingly fix the cover.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bumper unit of a vessel for leisure including: a hull; a bumper housing that is fixed to the hull and formed so that its one side is opened; a cover arranged to be relatively rotated with respect to the hull; a shock-absorbing member fixed to the cover to absorb shocks; and a rotation module rotating the cover.

A locking mechanism may be further arranged at least one of the cover and the hull to lockingly fix the cover.

The locking mechanism may include a locking groove arranged at one of the hull and the cover, a ball arranged at the other of the hull and the cover, and an elastic member elastically supporting the ball.

Advantageous Effects

The bumper unit of the vessel for leisure according to the present invention may alleviate shocks exerted to the hull since the bumper is protruded outside the hull by the use's manipulation when the vessel comes alongside the pier, and prevent the outer appearance of the vessel from being spoiled since the bumper is retracted inside the hull.

Furthermore, the bumper may be selectively retracted inside the hull by the user's manipulation, and this prevents unnecessary parts from being exposed outward on a voyage, and this may reduce resistance on a voyage and minimize any interference between people on board and the bumper, thus minimizing the likelihood of any safety accidents.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a vessel for leisure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the vessel for leisure shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a right side view of the vessel for leisure shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a left side view of the vessel for leisure shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the vessel for leisure shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the vessel for leisure shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the vessel for leisure shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view illustrating a bumper unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating an exemplary operation of the bumper unit shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view illustrating a bumper unit according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating an exemplary operation of the bumper unit shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view illustrating a bumper unit according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a view illustrating an exemplary operation of the bumper unit shown in FIG. 12.

BEST MODE

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a vessel for leisure according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of the vessel for leisure shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a right side view of the vessel for leisure shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a left side view of the vessel for leisure shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a plan view of the vessel for leisure shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the vessel for leisure shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 7 is a rear view of the vessel for leisure shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 7, the vessel 100 for leisure according to the embodiment includes a hull 10, a deck 20 covering a front portion of the hull 10, and a superstructure 30 arranged at an upper portion of the hull 10 to cover a portion of the hull 10. A fuel tank (not shown) is arranged at a lower part of the deck 20, and a fuel inlet is prepared to inject fuel into the fuel tank.

Plural eyes 12 are arranged at the hull 10 to draw the vessel, and a handrail 14 is arranged along the circumference of the hull 10.

Various equipments including a steering wheel for control of the vessel 100 are arranged in a space between the superstructure 30 and the hull 10, and a windshield 35 is arranged between the superstructure 30 and the deck 20.

And, there is arranged a drive unit 40 that includes a propeller (not shown) and a steering gear (not shown) for control of the traveling direction of the vessel 100 at the tail of the hull 10 and is controlled by the steering wheel (not shown).

Or, an engine (not shown) is arranged at the hull 10, which is supplied with fuel from the fuel tank to supply energy to the drive unit 40.

In the meanwhile, a bumper unit 50 is arranged at the hull 10 to alleviate impacts exerted against the hull 10 when the vessel 100 comes alongside the pier. The bumper unit 50 is designed to be expanded to protect the hull 10 when the vessel 100 comes alongside the pier and retracted on a voyage.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view illustrating a bumper unit according to an embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 9 is a view illustrating an exemplary operation of the bumper unit shown in FIG. 8.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the bumper unit 50 according to the embodiment includes a bumper 52 that is arranged at the hull 10 and selectively protruded outside the hull 10, a driving module 54 that expands the bumper 52 to be protruded outside the hull 10, and a coupling part 56 that couples the driving module 54 and the bumper 52 with each other to supply a working fluid to the bumper 52.

A bumper housing 51 is arranged at the hull 10, which is formed to be depressed inwards so that the bumper 52 may be accommodated therein. The bumper 52 is arranged in the bumper housing 51. And, the bumper 51 is formed of an elastic material that may be expanded and contracted by pressure from the working fluid.

A side of the bumper 52 is fixed to the bumper housing 51 and the other side is expanded/contracted to be protruded outside the hull 10 or contracted in the hull 10.

The driving module 54 is a compressor in this embodiment, which supplies a fluid, such as air or water, into the bumper 52 to expand/contract the bumper 52.

In the embodiment, the driving module 54 employs liquid phase water as the working fluid which is filled in the bumper 52 to be compressed, thereby preventing decrease in volume.

The coupling part 56 is a pipe that connects the driving module 54 and the bumper 52 with each other and includes check valves 56 a and 56 b for preventing the working fluid from flowing backward, a supply tube for supplying the working fluid into the bumper 52, and a recovery tube for recovering the working fluid to the driving module 54.

Although not shown, a storage tank (not shown) is arranged at the coupling part 56 to store the working fluid, and the driving module 54 supplies the working fluid from the storage tank to the bumper 52, and the working fluid recovered from the bumper 52 is stored in the storage tank.

In the meanwhile, an opening/closing module 60 is further arranged at the hull 10 to open the bumper housing 51 upon protrusion of the bumper 52.

The opening/closing module 60 includes a cover 62 for opening/closing the bumper housing 51 one side of which is opened and an actuation mechanism (not shown) for actuating the cover 62.

In the embodiment, the cover 62 is coupled with the hull 10 through a hinge 63 to be arranged to rotate at a prescribed angle, wherein a motor is used as the actuation mechanism. Or, a torsion spring (not shown) is arranged in the hinge 63 to exert an elastic force to the cover 62 so that the cover 62 remains closed.

That is, when the motor rotates in one direction, the cover 62 rotates in the direction of opening the bumper housing 51, and when the motor rotates in the opposite direction, the cover 52 returns to original location by an elastic force from the torsion spring and an actuation force from the motor. Although a motor has been employed as the actuation mechanism in the embodiment, any device such as a hydraulic cylinder may be used that creates a different kind of a driving force.

Hereinafter, an operation of the bumper unit included in the vessel for leisure according to the embodiment will be described in more detail.

Firstly, when the vessel 100 comes alongside the pier and a user operates an actuation switch (not shown) of the bumper unit 50 arranged in the vessel 100, an operation signal from the user is transmitted to the driving module 54 of the bumper unit 50 to supply a working fluid into the bumper 52.

Accordingly, the bumper 52 is expanded by the supplied working fluid to be protruded outside the hull 10, so that any impact exerted against the hull 10 may be alleviated by the protruded bumper 52.

In the meanwhile, the operation signal from the user actuates not only the bumper unit 50 but also the opening/closing module 60 to open the opening/closing module 60 in one direction so that the bumper 52 may be protruded outside the bumper housing 51.

In the embodiment, the cover 62 of the opening/closing module 60 is configured so that the bumper housing 51 is opened before the operation of the driving module 54 and the driving module 54 is operated to expand the bumper 52 after the cover 62 is opened.

Next, when the vessel 100 leaves the port or sails, the bumper 52 of the bumper unit 50 is retracted to minimize the resistance and interference on a voyage.

The user operates the actuation switch (not shown) to retract the bumper 52, and the driving module 54 operates reversely in response to an operation signal from the user so that the working fluid in the bumper 52 is stored to the storage tank, and accordingly, the bumper 52 is contracted to be retracted into the bumper housing 51.

The bumper 52 is easy to manipulate because of being linearly expanded and contracted according to the filling rate or recovery rate of the working fluid.

And, if the working fluid filled in the bumper 52 is recovered more than a prescribed rate, the cover 62 of the opening/closing module 60 rotates reversely to close the bumper housing 51. Although not shown, a separate fixing mechanism may be provided between the cover 62 and the hull 10 to prevent the cover 62 from being separated from the hull 10.

As such, the bumper unit 50 according to the embodiment is expanded by user's manipulation when the vessel comes alongside the pier to minimize impacts exerted against the hull 10 and retracted on a voyage, which enables the outer surface of the vessel 100 to look smooth as well as prevent negative influences coming from the protrusion of the structure.

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view illustrating a bumper unit according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is a view illustrating an exemplary operation of the bumper unit shown in FIG. 10.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the bumper unit 70 according to the embodiment includes a cover 72 arranged to relatively rotate with respect to the hull 10, a shock-absorbing member 74 fixed to the cover 72 to absorb shocks, a locking mechanism arranged between the cover 72 and the hull 10 to lockingly fix the cover 72, and a rotation module (not shown) rotating the cover 72.

The cover 72 is arranged at the hull 10, opens and closes an outer surface of the hull 10, and is connected to the hull 10 through a hinge 71.

The shock-absorbing member 74 is formed of an elastic material exerting an elastic force, such as synthetic resin materials, to be attached to the cover 72. Here, the shock-absorbing member 74 is located to be spaced by a prescribed length L from one end of the cover 72 with respect to the hinge 71, so that the cover 72 is prevented from interfering with the hull 10 upon opening and closing of the cover 72.

Also, a bumper housing 73 is arranged at the hull 10 to receive the shock-absorbing member 74, and the cover 72 opens and closes the bumper housing 73.

The locking mechanism includes a detent mechanism 75 that consists of a ball 75 a and an elastic member 75 b that elastically supports the ball 75 a, wherein the ball 75 a is protruded outside the cover 72 by a prescribed length to make the hull 10 locked thereto. Here, the hull 10 to which the cover 72 is combined is formed with a locking groove 10 a to which the detent mechanism 75 a is locked.

A motor rotating the cover 72 and a hydraulic cylinder may be used as the rotation module. The actuation structure of the cover 72 through the motor or hydraulic cylinder is well known to those skilled in the art, and thus its detailed descriptions will be omitted.

Hereinafter, an operation of the bumper unit 70 will be described as follows.

First, if the actuation switch is operated by a user, the rotation module is operated to rotate the cover 72 in the direction outside the hull 10. Locking is done by the detent mechanism 75 arranged between the hull 10 and the cover 72, however, an actuation force of the rotation module is larger than the locking force, and therefore, the cover 72 is opened.

And, the shock-absorbing member 74 arranged inside the cover 72 is exposed outside the hull 10 to alleviate shocks exerted onto the hull 10 through the shock-absorbing member 74 when the vessel 100 comes alongside the pier.

Next, when the actuation switch is operated by the user upon receiving the bumper unit 70, the rotation module is operated reversely to rotate the cover 72 to the original location, and the shock-absorbing member 74 is retracted in the bumper housing 73.

Here, the detent mechanism 75 a of the detent mechanism 75 and the locking groove 10 a are locked to each other, so that the cover 72 is fixed to the hull 10.

In the meanwhile, although the detent mechanism has been employed as the locking mechanism in the embodiment, various structures of hooks or press-fit coupling may be usable. Or, although the locking mechanism has been described only for this embodiment, the locking mechanism may apply to the other embodiments.

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view illustrating a bumper unit according to still another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 13 is a view illustrating an exemplary operation of the bumper unit shown in FIG. 12.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, the bumper unit 80 according to the embodiment includes a bumper housing 81 fixed to the hull 10, a bumper 82 arranged in the bumper housing 81, a driving module 84 supplying a working fluid to the bumper 82, a cover 86 opening/closing the bumper housing 81, and a motor 88 which is an actuation mechanism for operating the cover 86.

The bumper housing 81 is formed to be fixed inside the hull 10 and so that one side thereof is opened.

The bumper 82 is arranged inside the bumper housing 81 and configured to be expanded and contracted by the working fluid. The driving module 84 is configured as in the first embodiment to be capable of supplying the working fluid to the bumper 82. The driving module 84 may include a coupling part and a storage tank although not shown.

The cover 86 is provided at the hull 10 to be slidingly moved in one direction.

For this, a rail 86 a and a rail groove 86 b are provided on the hull 10 and the cover 86.

The motor 88 exerts a driving force for moving the cover 86, and is fixed to the bumper housing 81 in the embodiment.

And, a pinion 88 a and a rack 88 b are prepared to provide the driving force of the motor 88 to the cover 86, and the rack 88 b is fixed inside the cover 86.

If the motor 88 is driven, the pinion 88 a coupled with the motor 88 is rotated and a driving force is transferred to the rack 88 b engaged with the pinion 88 a, and the cover 86 to which the rack 88 b is fixed is slidingly moved along the rail groove 86 b.

Here, after the cover 86 opens the bumper housing 81, the driving module 84 supplies the working fluid to the bumper 82 to expand the bumper 82.

Thereafter, a process of receiving the bumper 82 is done in the reverse direction of the above-described process, so that the bumper 82 is retracted in the bumper housing 81 and then the cover 86 is slidingly moved to close the bumper housing 81.

Meanwhile, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and drawings disclosed in the specification, and may be applicable by those skilled in the art within the range in which the spirits of the present invention are protected. 

1. A bumper unit of a vessel for leisure comprising: a hull; a bumper housing that is fixed to the hull and formed so that its one side is opened; a bumper arranged at the bumper housing to be selectively expanded/contracted by a working fluid; a driving module supplying the working fluid to the bumper; and an opening/closing module opening/closing the bumper housing whose one side is opened.
 2. The bumper unit of the vessel for leisure of claim 1, wherein the opening/closing module includes a cover arranged at the hull to be slidingly moved to open/close the bumper housing.
 3. The bumper unit of the vessel for leisure of claim 2, wherein a locking mechanism is further arranged at least one of the cover and the hull to lockingly fix the cover.
 4. The bumper unit of the vessel for leisure of claim 1, wherein the opening/closing module includes a cover arranged at the hull to open/close the bumper housing and an actuation mechanism moving the cover.
 5. The bumper unit of the vessel for leisure of claim 4, wherein a rail is arranged at one of the cover and the hull and a rail groove is arranged at the other one.
 6. The bumper unit of the vessel for leisure of claim 4, wherein a locking mechanism is further arranged at least one of the cover and the hull to lockingly fix the cover.
 7. The bumper unit of the vessel for leisure of claim 4, wherein the actuation mechanism includes a motor arranged at one of the bumper housing and the hull, and a rack arranged at the cover to receive a driving force from the motor.
 8. The bumper unit of the vessel for leisure of claim 1, wherein the opening/closing module includes a cover opening/closing the bumper housing, a motor slidingly moving the cover, a rack arranged at the cover, and a pinion coupled with the motor to transfer a driving force to the rack.
 9. The bumper unit of the vessel for leisure of claim 8, wherein a locking mechanism is further arranged at least one of the cover and the hull to lockingly fix the cover, wherein the locking mechanism includes a locking groove arranged at one of the hull and the cover, a ball arranged at the other of the hull and the cover, and an elastic member elastically supporting the ball.
 10. The bumper unit of the vessel for leisure of claim 1, wherein the opening/closing module includes a cover arranged to be relatively rotated with respect to the bumper housing to open/close the bumper housing, and an actuation mechanism relatively rotating the cover.
 11. The bumper unit of the vessel for leisure of claim 10, wherein a locking mechanism is further arranged at least one of the cover and the hull to lockingly fix the cover.
 12. The bumper unit of the vessel for leisure of claim 11, wherein the locking mechanism includes a locking groove arranged at one of the hull and the cover, a ball arranged at the other of the hull and the cover, and an elastic member elastically supporting the ball.
 13. The bumper unit of the vessel for leisure of claim 1, wherein the driving module includes a compressor compressing and supplying a working fluid to the bumper, a supply tube connecting the compressor and the bumper to each other to supply the working fluid compressed by the compressor to the bumper, a recovery tube connecting the bumper and the compressor to each other to supply the working fluid of the bumper to the compressor, and a check valve arranged at each of the supply tube and the recovery tube.
 14. The bumper unit of the vessel for leisure of claim 13, wherein a storage tank is further arranged between the recovery tube and the compressor to store the working fluid.
 15. The bumper unit of the vessel for leisure of claim 12, wherein a locking mechanism is further arranged at least one of the cover and the hull to lockingly fix the cover.
 16. A bumper unit of a vessel for leisure comprising: a hull; a bumper housing that is fixed to the hull and formed so that its one side is opened; a cover arranged to be relatively rotated with respect to the hull; a shock-absorbing member fixed to the cover to absorb shocks; and a rotation module rotating the cover.
 17. The bumper unit of the vessel for leisure of claim 16, wherein a locking mechanism is further arranged at least one of the cover and the hull to lockingly fix the cover.
 18. The bumper unit of the vessel for leisure of claim 17, wherein the locking mechanism includes a locking groove arranged at one of the hull and the cover, a ball arranged at the other of the hull and the cover, and an elastic member elastically supporting the ball. 